“There’s a certain line of thinking that goes, when the revolution happens, everything’s going to change,” says Bruce. “And when it doesn’t, there’s huge disappointment, huge disillusionment. And at the end of it all, there’s an anger that drives whatever the next phase is.

“That’s why the title, ‘Groundswell.’ It’s what’s still pushing us from underneath all the time, are these issues.”

Yet, if the play doesn’t necessarily find neat, peaceable solutions, Bruce still feels it holds out at least the hope for one — in South Africa, and in those other countries where revolts are happening now.

“The possibility of love is huge in that story,” he says. “These three men could learn to love each other.

“It could be a moment where they say, ‘All right, we see each other. (So) let’s come together. Let’s do what we can. We all have different strengths and different needs. But we can do something together.’ ”